1984 Rate of Natural Increase

In 1984, the world’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between the crude birth rate and crude death rate, expressed as a percentage—stood at approximately 1.8% per year, reflecting a period of rapid global population growth. This rate, however, varied significantly across continents and regions. Africa had the highest RNI, often exceeding 2.5%, due to high birth rates and declining death rates, while Asia, particularly South and Southeast Asia, also experienced high RNI values, typically between 2% and 2.5%. Latin America’s RNI hovered around 2%, whereas Europe had a much lower rate, often below 0.5%, with some countries experiencing near-zero or even negative natural increase due to low birth rates and aging populations. North America’s RNI was moderate, around 0.7%, reflecting a balance between relatively low birth and death rates. At the country level, nations such as Kenya and Nigeria saw RNIs above 3%, while countries like West Germany, Hungary, and Sweden had some of the lowest rates, with minimal or negative natural increase. These contrasts highlight the demographic transition underway in the 1980s, with developing countries experiencing high growth and developed nations entering stages of population stabilization or decline.

Data from US Census International Database